ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio got back to its winning ways against North Texas on Saturday as the Bobcats combated a second-half comeback from the Mean Green to earn a 27-21 victory. Redshirt junior Chase Cochran was instrumental in the team's success, the receiver made two big plays that shaped the game.

The most crucial play of the game came in the fourth quarter on a third down and three play with around four minutes left in the game.

Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton targeted Cochran on a 23-yard pass, and the receiver hauled it in tremendous fashion.

Cochran snagged the ball with one hand as he fell backward with a defender in his face, drawing audible gasps of amazement from the packed stands in Peden. The Bobcats were only up three points at the time and it set them up for another field goal that would force the Mean Green to win it with a touchdown.

"It was big, because it was third down and it put us in position to put some points on the board," Cochran said.

Ohio head coach Frank Solich expressed just how important the play truly was after the game.

"That catch was crucial to keep the drive alive," he said.

Cochran also opened the game up with a stupendous play. He struck gold on the very first play from scrimmage as he hauled in a 75-yard burner from Tettleton to hit North Texas in the mouth early with a touchdown.

"It was just one of those plays that we love against their type of defense," Tettleton said. "We knew that we were going to have a chance to run it at some point in the game, and it just happened to be the first play."

Cochran has proven himself as a deep threat in these last three games, stretching back to the Independence Bowl and his three reception, 162 yard, and one touchdown performance against Louisiana-Monroe.

But, he's working on developing his game so that he's an all-around receiver, not just a target for long bombs. And he displayed flashes of it tonight with his six catches.

"The coaches have been hard on me on working on my short game and not being a one-dimensional type of guy," Cochran said. "I've been able to have a short game and I'm trying to evolve and work it into my play."

"He brings speed, and he's developing as a receiver," Solich said.

Another player who came up clutch for the Bobcats was redshirt sophomore kicker Matt Green. After missing on his first three kicks of the season, he broke the tie in the fourth quarter by hitting a high-pressure 38-yard field goal with 8:08 left in the game. He then proceeded to knock in a 22-yarder to push the lead to six with just 1:23 on the clock.

"He's been consistent in practice, so we felt it was just a matter of it turning for him a little bit," Solich said.

The Bobcats have righted the ship after the opening loss and now have Marshall on the horizon as the Thundering Herd will charge into Peden next Saturday at 8 p.m.

Alex Marcheschi will serve as the OhioBobcats.com staff writer during the 2013-14 season. He can be reached at ohiobobcatfeatures@gmail.com or on Twitter at @BobcatFeatures.